Missouri State University Department of Biology • 901 South National, Springfield, MO 65897 Phone: (417) 836-5126 Fax: (417) 836-4204 Email: biology@missouristate.edu
Office: Temple Hall 223
Phone: (417) 836-5440
Email: kkim@missouristate.edu
Links:
Curriculum Vitae |
Selected publications
Cell migration is required for embryo and organ development, inflammatory responses and wound healing. Enhanced cell motility or metastasis is also a hallmark event of aggressive tumor cells. The long-term goal of my research is to understand the molecular mechanism of cell motility. Interestingly, all moving cells utilize the assembly and disassembly process of actin cytoskeleton. In order to understand the molecular mechanism of motile behavior, I use budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is an excellent model system because yeast has a relatively simple actin cytoskeleton and offers powerful experimental tools for genetic manipulation. It is important to note that most of the human genes involved in cancer motility are found in the yeast. The study stated above in yeast will obviously provide a deeper insight about human health-related diseases such as cancer.
